A Muslim who
is able to give of his money and belongings every year, will give it to help the
poor people and those who are in need.

Zakat is not a form of tax.

Zakat is not a form of charity.

Zakat is a
duty on every able Muslim. He has to give to the poor and the needy to help
them. He may give it in two ways:

directly,

through some kind of authority
when this authority is available.

WHY GIVE?

It
is essential that every able Muslim give of his left over earnings every year.
Zakat is the third act of worship in Islam, it is a form of Ibadat. We give of
our money to purify our earnings. Zakat will help the needy people, and is
given in obedience to Allah's Command. When it is done by every able man, the
whole community will be greatly helped.

HOW DOES IT HELP?

When many able persons give of their money or produce every year, this money and
goods will go to helpthe poor. This means that the

rich and able
people will have slightly less money at their disposal, but this will not hurt
them. When the money goes to the poor and those who badly need it, it will help
them live better. They will be in better shape and they will be able to eat and
dress better. They will be healthier.

The amount of Zakat is small, and when it is given it will not hurt those who
give it. But this amount, though small it is, will help the poor a good deal,
because it can buy them the food they need, the clothes they put on, and it will
make it easier for them to live.

When the poor people get the extra money, they will be better able to afford to
buy what they need. This may stop them from having to beg, or steal food or
what they need. It will make life easier for them. To be poor is very
difficult, especially if you cannot eat well. A very hungry person who cannot
buy food or clothes may be forced to steal or do something bad.

If
the poor person can have this extra money, he will complain less, and he will be
better satisfied. He and his family will be able to buy rather than steal and
to sleep with a full stomach rather than an empty one.

THEREFORE ZAKAT IS OUR HUMANE
DUTY TOO

Zakat is our religious as well as our humane duty. It is our moral duty too.
Zakat is not a charity. When we give of our money, we are not doing a favor to
those who receive it. It is actually an honor to give to them, it is a way in
which we purify our earnings every year. Every able Muslim has this duty on his
shoulders. Zakat is a must, it is decreed in Islam.

DO WE HAVE TO PAY EVERY YEAR?

As
mentioned before, we have to give every year if we can afford it. We pay a
certain amount of money from whatever is left of our earnings at the end of that
year.

In
Islam, we are encouraged to live in moderation. This means we should not waste, and we should not live too
luxuriously. When a good Muslim
lives this way, he may have some extra money on hand at the end of the year.
This left

over from his
earnings should be purified from the Islamic point of view. This purification
is accomplished by giving Zakat as Islam orders it.

Zakat purifies our wealth, it will give us a feeling of goodness inside, a
feeling of doing good and being of help. It makes us feel that all things
belong to Allah, and what we have at hand by the grace of God, should be used
for His sake.

HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE TO PAY?

Zakat consists of only a small percentage of the left over earnings; it has to
go for helping less fortunate people. Zakat amounts to two and one‑half percent
of the left over earnings, but a different percentage of produce.

Let us give an example: If by the end of the year you have $100.00 left over,
the 2.5% of this $100.00 is only a small $2.50. You cannot say that this is too
much to give. Yet, this small amount from every good Muslim can amount to a
good sum of money that will go to help the poor.

If
you are a farmer however, the percentage of the produce and the goods is
different. You don't have to give only money, you may give extra produce from
the farm or other goods.

Zakat is an act of worship, it is the third sacred duty of Ibadat. Zakat is an
act of worship, it purifies our souls. It will teach us the beautiful sense of
giving. It will help us learn to share our wealth with others, people who are
not as fortunate as we are.

Zakat will help us learn not to become selfish and keep all the money to
ourselves. Zakat helps us learn that money and wealth are gifts from Almighty
God, and that we should share it with the needy and disadvantaged. It is a
noble thing to do.

The poor will feel good in receiving it, especially if they know that the money
is not a charity. It is their right to receive it. Zakat will make everyone
feel good inside, and be aware that we all belong to the Islamic Ummah
(Community).

IS ZAKAT GIVEN ONLY TO THE
POOR?

Money of the Zakat goes to many people in special unfortunate situations. It
goes to:

the poor

the needy

the destitute

those in bondage

in the cause of God

some other special worthy purposes.

WHEN SHOULD WE START GIVING?

We
give the Zakat when we become old enough to work for ourselves and are able to
support ourselves. When we work and make money, we support our family first and
foremost. If we can afford to give the Zakat after we support our family, then
we ought to start doing so every year.